Thousands rally in Berlin to support legalization of cannabis

Participants of the 20th Hemp Parade walk past the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, 13 August 2016. The demonstrators demand the legalisation of cannabis as a material, medicine and stimulant with the motto 'Legalisierung liegt in der Luft' (lit. 'Legalisation is in the air').

Photograph: EPA/BRITTA PEDERSEN

Thousands of people took to the streets of Berlin to advocate for the legalization of cannabis on Saturday.

More than 4,000 people participated in what is known locally as the Hanfparade (hemp parade), according to local police.

Demonstrators are pushing for the legalization of the illicit drug as a natural resource, medicine and recreational drug.

Cannabis is currently illegal in Germany, except in rare instances for medical use.

Green Party politician Hans-Christian Stroebele was in attendance and tweeted: "Make hemp free."

The protest started at the capital's main train station and made its way towards Berlin's iconic town hall via the Health Ministry and the Reichstag.

The parade, first established in 1997, takes place annually and is the Germany's largest demonstration in support of legalizing of cannabis, according to event organizers.

"Legalizing cannabis would cause less damage than the current ban has caused in the last 45 years," parade spokesman Steffen Geyer said.

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